Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 13th October 2026
Last updated
Mon 12th Oct 26 at
4:13PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy rain over England and Wales at dawn clears eastward, followed by showers, sun breaks, and cooler temperatures. Showers soon frequent west Scotland, clustering for sustained heavy rain/hail, sweeping east across Scotland afternoon. Widely windy, powerful gusts around rain.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early rain clears, afternoon showers, strong wind
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 35-45mph most of the day, will vary and perhaps briefly lighter, but also likely strengthening as afternoon goes, strongest gusts over 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure much of the day, some locally lighter effects but also a more challenging period later in the day with gusts knocking you around. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Dawn rain, then showers, becoming frequent and heavy
Heavy rain from overnight clears away eastwards around dawn, leaving a brief drier window, but showers soon follow from the west, scattered at first (particularly east) but increasingly frequent and heavy with hail, some sustained heavy falls afternoon, later as sleet/snow on high tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to tops when dry
Extensive fog from overnight begins breaking right around dawn, varied cloud at many heights but for a few hours breaking well toward upper slopes with clearer hills in the north east. Patches will come and go on high tops, filling in again from west in showers, extensively to 1000m, as low as 700m west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best toward north for a few hours, cloud building and mostly cloudy for a few afternoon hours. Visibility excellent as rain clears, then reducing around showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Mild 10C overnight, dropping as dawn approaches to 7C, lowering further with time to finish the day near 3C. Feeling later like -10C as wind increases.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but may drop to just above highest tops later in the day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 14th October 2026
Last updated
Mon 12th Oct 26 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, in range 50 to 80mph, notable increase with height; sustained speeds strongest afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Buffeting even on lower hills, increasingly severe conditions on high terrain, mobility difficult; powerful downslope gusts.
How Wet?
A little rain, wetter later west
Spots of rain in the wind, most frequent Ben Alder to Drumochter hills, substantially dry furthest north and east. Later in day, more widespread steadier rain arrives from southwest, heavier in west.
Cloud on the hills?
High terrain largely covered, breaks north & east
Banks of cloud clinging to many upper slopes above 800-1000m, but north and east of the Cairngorm plateau and on Monadhliath the cloud may largely break up for periods. Some varied lower banks south, and will fill in more extensively evening/night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun, more often north of Cairngorms. Visibility fairly good, but slight haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 8C, only slight drop if any overnight. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 15th October 2026
Last updated
Mon 12th Oct 26 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly starting in range of 35-45mph, trending towards 30-35mph and may lower further with time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking to start with considerable wind chill, effects gradually easing though walking impeded until late.
How Wet?
Rain from dawn eases
Rain from overnight persists into dawn, steady falls perhaps for several hours, heaviest on south Cairngorms, but will begin to break into patches with time, increasingly clearing away to drizzle, later substantially dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive morning, improving afternoon
Fog to middle slopes at least from overnight well into morning, ragged patches into glens south Cairngorms. As rain breaks, cloud base rises towards 800-900m, higher breaks north of Cairngorm plateau, and better breaks late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, rising to 40% late in the day
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull to start, visibility improving as cloud and rain break, and sunny bursts forming as afternoon goes.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Starting at a mild 7 or 8C, cooling towards 4C. Feeling like -2 to -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, though may lower towards just the high summits late in the day.
Planning Outlook
Southwesterly gales strengthen to become severe on the mountains into Wednesday, moderating into Thursday. Cloudy with some drizzle on western hills, a band of more extensive heavier rain passing southeastwards Wednesday into Thursday as well. Starting on the milder side, but fresher air arrives behind the band of rain Thursday into Friday, sun breaking out with a few showers - Scottish high summits may drop back close to freezing with some snow falling on higher tops. Indications of higher pressure building on Friday and into the weekend, bringing a window of more settled weather and scope for local inversion conditions on high terrain. Clear night skies allow for chilly mornings, some ground frosts likely, and may remain quite blustery south Pennines and Wales.